"Those jobs aren't coming back," said Steve Jobs to the President, who asked what it would take to bring Apple's production to the U.S. It's not just low wages, Chinese manufacturing infrastructure has grown to remarkable size and sophistication. Apple's contribution to U.S. employment will be through its stores, its empowerment of entrepreneurs, and jobs at cellular providers and shippers, but not the actual building of its products. [View news story]

I was just wondering if German companies building production plants in the US, Mexico, China, Portugal, Spain, South Afrika, etc. isn't outsourcing? If so, they've been doing if for many years, but I'm not sure if that's the same thing.

I sold 1 contract back when you wrote this article, mine was just a cash secured PUT - with strike $335 - 1/21/12 for $2.65 - and would have been happy to own the stock at that price, as it is, it never went below 338 - so I got the premium. I'm thinking of doing it again, the weekly puts are not looking bad, but who knows what MA will do on Monday?

Testy Tuesday: How Many Times Will You Fall For The Same Thing? [View article]

I watched it at amazon, it's free if you have prime.His name is Michael Ruppert, here's a link to imbd reviews.http://imdb.to/wRXZQr

Netflix has it, their description: an avant-garde soliloquy, investigative journalist Michael Ruppert details his unnerving theories about the inexorable link between energy depletion and the collapse of the economic system that supports the entire industrial world.

Testy Tuesday: How Many Times Will You Fall For The Same Thing? [View article]

I just watched a documentary entitled "Collapse" and was wondering if anyone had seen it. Scary stuff, and probably very true, although I think most of the world is in denial.

Obama may be one of the more sincere presidents to come along in a while, however, as the subject of above movie stated, no politician is free or has the power, to fight the inevitable.

The saying "Love of money is the root of all evil" ... I didn't know St. Timothy is credited with having said that.

Anyway, I need to get away from all the doom and gloom. Might have to pull out of the market again, buy a small plot of land to farm and get some chickens and a goat. Stock organic seeds, canned goods and fresh water - who knows what's coming, but it might just be a good idea, no matter what?

Too funny, I just posted a quick ALE heads up on your last article. And have posted about it being one of the best investments I ever inherited, many times here at SA. You don't hear much about it, pretty low key company, but has made us so much money over the years. Dividends reinvest, stock splits, spin offs (Adesa) made this the most profitable stock I have ever come across.

Enjoy your articles and you just reinforced a decision I'm trying to help my daughter with, namely, how to invest her relatively small IRA at this time, when her bank CD is making her nothing. I will recommend she put it in some of the utilities you recommend.

James Kostohryz Positions For 2012: 100% Cash The Only Way To Play This Market [View article]

You know, that is a great point!! I remember hearing about mutual funds, it must have been in the early 80s because my daughter wasn't born yet, but one friend in particular was extremely positive this was the best thing since scrambled eggs! I never quite got it, but in the end, it was probably the best way for small timers to get a piece of the action/market.

I like making my own decisions, even when I make mistakes, I learn from them and have no one else to blame.

It would be good to have a mentor or sorts, to give good adivce, but I'm learning to know who to listen to here at SA, and who is just too radical for my own liking.

I sold my first put yesterday, just couldn't wait. It's a stock I feel very comfortable owning, namely SI. I have quite a few in different account right now, and sold covered calls on all of them. They go ex divi on 1/20 - it's a yearly dividend of 4.04 ( close to that) and so I decided to sell a contract of Feb 12 - $85 - my thinking is that they will probably not go that low, and I made a little bit of money. But even if they do, I will be happy to own them, as this company isn't going anywhere, and I am confident that sometime soon the whole Euro thing will be resolved.

I had an interesting thing happen involving selling covered calls for LYB recently, and they announced a special dividend, which caused the strike price to be lowered by the amount of divi = $4.50 per share! I was livid, but learned from it, to always check the literature when a special dividend is announced.

James Kostohryz Positions For 2012: 100% Cash The Only Way To Play This Market [View article]

Who said risky? not I ... unprofitable, perhaps, but risky? nope.

I have been cashing in my profits though, just in case. Wonder who is doing the brain washing here, lol.

I guess with all our clicks, you've been cashing in on a nice little Santa rally of your own, James, and you well deserve it for all the work you do here.

Your articles do make me think, and others, obviously. Doesn't mean I agree, quite the opposite, it takes a bit of soul searching to decide what is more important, safety or making some money.

Btw. I don't agree that 14% is impossible on yearly basis ... as you wrote above. I think it's quite doable to make 2 or 3 % on your principle per month, if it's invested in equities with at least a 2% monthly dividend, and then sell a few calls and puts here and there for another 1% - Voila! Merry Kriegst-nix! ;)